While most people are active in at least some capacity on social media, not everyone considers their presence on social networks as a representation of themselves or as a “brand.” In fact, what you post about yourself, your life, or your activities, are all ways to communicate who you are and what values are important to you. When it comes to your professional “brand,” LinkedIn is the most popular social network to invest in communicating who you are and what you stand for.
Whether you are just beginning to create your LinkedIn profile, or you haven’t updated it in a few years, this article can help you take advantage of one of the best places to showcase your career accomplishments and communicate your aspirations to your professional network.
10 Tips to Make a Stand-Out LinkedIn Profile
Choose a Good Picture
This picture probably won’t be the same as any other social media profile you have. This one should look professional and tasteful. Think about if you had to include a picture with your resume. That’s the type of picture you should use for your LinkedIn profile.
PRO Tip: Add a background photo, too. While this feature wasn’t around in the beginning years of the networking platform, it adds an exciting element that catches the attention of your onlookers. This picture might showcase a passion you have, like hiking; or a skill you have, like graphic design. Whatever you choose, again, make it tasteful, but let it be inviting.
Your Headline Doesn’t Have to Be (Just) a Job Title
In the first years of LinkedIn, the headline seemed to be more like the job title. However, over the years it’s gotten a lot more interesting. You can feel free to include your job title, but also add something that describes a top accomplishment, a passion you have, or an award you’ve earned. If you’re not quite sure what to write, just browse around a bit, and you may find some inspiration that can help you make your headline more exciting.
List Your Relevant Skills
A nice feature on LinkedIn is the ability to add skills to your profile. You can scroll through the list and add the skills you have. However, don’t go overboard. Prioritize the skills that are most desirable in your industry and ones that are proof to your headline claims.
Ask For (& Give) Endorsements
This is one of the most valuable things you can do for your LinkedIn profile. Quality endorsements are a meaningful way to showcase that what you’re saying is honest and genuine. You don’t have to get tons of endorsements. Here, quality definitely rules over quantity. Reach out to those people who you would value an endorsement from the most and politely ask them to write one for you.
You should also reach out to those you feel deserve an endorsement from you! When you do something like this, people are grateful. They will be happy to help you with questions or needs if you ever need them as well.
Request Recommendations
To take it a step further, you can also seek out recommendations. These may be best suited for previous managers or coworkers who can speak in detail about your work ethic and accomplishments. Again, approach this request with a lot of politeness and humility.
Take a Skills Assessment
A great feature that LinkedIn has is a “Verified Skill.” These are highlighted in your profile after you take (and pass) a skills assessment. Employers are quick to notice these verified skills and may be more likely to pursue an applicant with these results. These assessments are all done online, can be taken as often as possible, and it’s completely optional to display on your profile.
Show Your Love of Learning
If you enjoy learning, take a course on LinkedIn Learning. These courses can help you grow in your professional offerings by learning new skills. The courses do cost money, but they are taught by vetted experts and are meaningful steps to taking your career to the next level. Upon completion, you can add your course certificate to your profile so your connections see how you take initiative on professional development.
Share Relevant Content
Like other social media platforms, you should feel comfortable sharing content with your network. Understand that this content should be professional and relevant to your industry or your own career accomplishments. Not sure what to share? Take a look at what your connections are sharing, then decide what makes sense for you to share – just make sure it’s genuine; people will see through something that’s not.
PRO TIP: Don’t forget to comment and engage with your connections as well. The same rules apply on LinkedIn as on other networks. When you comment and engage, others will do the same for you. If you’re only posting, you won’t get the same type of experience.
Follow Industry Influencers
One of the best ways to stay motivated in your career is to be inspired by accomplished industry influencers. You can follow influencers in your industry in addition to those outside of your industry. Find who inspires you to be your best, and connect with them. Having access to their content can give you perspective, plus it’s a great way to engage with meaningful content.
Grow Your Network
As you make steps to update or improve your LinkedIn profile, don’t forget to reach out to connections so you can grow your network. It’s truly amazing to see how your LinkedIn network might turn to job opportunities, career inspiration, or personal motivation.
Looking for the Right Job for Your Career?
If you need help finding a job that will help you continue to reach your career goals, contact Axiom Staffing. They can help with resume writing, finding the right jobs for your goals, and other help you may need.
